Family Court, Katei-saiban-sho

Sanada was in the common waiting room reading through the file of the next case he was called upon. I wonder if we should defend him or not, he wondered looking at all the details of the person he was supposed to defend. His record is like a trophy book and he is only sixteen…

He closed the file feeling a headache taking over his peaceful mind, speaking of 'we' where is Masaharu? He questioned himself mentally looking at his watch in disbelief. Either my watch just died or Masharu is really late?! He thought completely surprised, since Niou was always the first to arrive at the court. I can't believe that he would be late!

"Good morning Sanada-san, we see each other again."

Sanada looked up when he was addressed too and met the sincere smile of a middle-aged woman. "Ogata-sama… good morning!" He got up and bowed respectfully at the judge. "Are you going to overlook the case of Yamaguchi-san?" he asked politely.

Judge Ogata's smile widened, "Of course Sanada-san. I do involve myself in juvenile delinquency too. Anything that has to do with minor justice is my forte." She started to walk towards her office and gestured for Sanada to follow her.

"It's quite admirable of you judge Ogata-sama," Sanada remarked feeling deep admiration for the middle-aged woman, whom he'd met in his very first case.

The judge stopped in her tracks and looked at Sanada seriously. "I wish it was as you say Sanada-san," she said with a hint of sadness lingering in her voice, "but I'm only doing this to atone for my own sins as a parent," she sighed deeply and then smiled bitterly. "You see, Sanada-san, becoming a judge didn't help me save my son from becoming a delinquent. I still lost him to drugs because I was never around and had never enough time to care for him."

Sanada's eyes widened hearing the confession of the person he admired so much.

There was a small moment of silence from the woman before the warm smile she always wore returned on her face. "That is the true reason I decided to devote myself in cases that involved children and teenagers. So I can help them live the life my son couldn't."

"I don't know what to say…" Sanada managed to mumble.

"There is really no need to say anything Sanada-san," she shook her head lightly. "It's all in the past," she said as she began to walk again. "By the way… where is that teasing partner of yours? Isn't he coming today?" she asked opening the door to her office.

Sanada looked at his watch again and cursed following the judge in her office. I will kill him…

In Fay's car

"At least smile for me!"

"I'm too freaking tired to smile for you," Fay muttered, stifling her yawn. "I'm exhausted from work and you demand that I drop you?! Why couldn't that ass who's been staying over for the past two nights drop you?" she exclaimed.

Aya looked at her disapprovingly. "I am fond of that ass so no name calling, alright?"

"Meh!"

Aya scowled this time, "Don't 'meh' me, Fay!? I am jobless and almost penniless; I can't feed us if I don't work."

"You're so far away from being penniless," Fay said, stopping at the red light. "You're stingy and don't spend much on yourself, so you're not penniless. You just splurge on gifts and you're not jobless yet!"

"Whatever you say!"

Fay looked sideways at Aya. "What I really don't get is why don't you buy a car? You have a driver's license, so why not make your life easier?" She honked at the car in front of her. "You jerk!" she shouted at the driver of the car when she passed him.

Aya chuckled, "That's why I don't drive!" she remarked receiving a glare from her friend. "It would be to stressful for me and you know how I hate stress."

"It's a good thing those two stopped you from going into showbiz!" Fay mumbled looking at the road. "At last! Here we are!" she smiled, "It's very close to my work I see!"

"That is excellent," Aya said happily. "You can drop me off every day!" she looked at Fay grinning from ear to ear. "It would be great no?" she got out of the car.

"Bite me!" Fay shouted and turned her car around to leave.

In the courtroom

Niou were the hell are you? Sanada thought feeling irate while he was preparing his documents for the case that was about to start. Something is wrong… He is not that irresponsible… he sat in his chair, irritation turning into worry.

It wasn't a major case like the ones he always liked to work on but Niou had insisted once again to look into it since it involved another teenage delinquent. Niou had a soft spot for helping out teenage delinquents and Sanada really felt proud to see his friend so motivated!

Both were supposed to present at the hearing of the case in order to decide whether they would take the case or not. Of course, there was no doubt that Niou would take it but Sanada was very reluctant about this particular case.

"Are you ready Sanada-san? We are about to start!" Judge Ogata said calmly, looking at the young man staring at his phone as if he was urging it to ring.

Sanada snapped his attention to the older woman. "I'm sorry," he looked at his watch once again and sighed, "Yes, I'm ready. Please proceed!"

The hearing took two hours until they reached an agreement whether to send the teenager through a regular trial to a district court or have a small trial in a family court. The accusation was attempted murder and it had to be taken to the district court but Sanada managed to convince the public attorney that the case could be solved in the family court with the presence of the teenagers family.

I do hope he will be thankful for what I did today… he thought as he was leaving the room still worried about why his friend and partner never showed up. "I better go back to the office," he muttered under his breath walking to his car. I have so much work to do…

RING

RING

"Masaharu, where the hell are…" he stopped when he heard a shy voice on the phone speaking to him; "Morita-san?" he asked feeling embarrassed. "Did you want something from me?" he managed to ask getting in his car.

"There is a man waiting for you in your office Sanada-san. Are you coming back or should I tell him to leave? He said he is a friend!" the secretary replied hurriedly.

"I see," Sanada muttered starting the car. "I will be there in twenty minutes," he said but before he hung up he asked, "Morita-san, is Niou in the office?"

Morita hesitated, "No, he hasn't come all day!"

"Thanks." Sanada frowned closing his phone. He threw on the passenger seat beside him and drove back to the office feeling almost ready to snap!

Atobe Industry Corporation, Fay's department

"Oy! What's going on in here?!" Fay demanded as she noticed Sai going crazy over something, Kirihara on the floor picking up papers, and Yuuta on the phone actually shouting at someone.

"There's a spider in the office?!" screeched Sai, who was completely pale.

Fay had her hands on her hips, "That doesn't explain why the office is a mess," she said, annoyed at the chaos around her.

"I'm Arachnophobic," Sai whispered, holding onto her chest. "Please… Please get me out of this room."

"Aw man! Is she going to faint again?!" Kirihara groaned, holding onto his forehead.

"Again?" Fay asked.

Yuuta looked at her wryly, "She faints every time she sees it, it was a complete disaster," he whispered. "She fell on Akaya once and he couldn't get up." He snickered.

Fay rubbed her aching temple, "You know… I'm not going to bother. You two deal with this mess!" she said, walking into her office.

Damn it… They both swore. "So… what are we to do about this?" Yuuta asked first.

"My first suggestion would be 'let's scram' but then we would be fired. So I say we call an ambulance to take away Sai and a company to come and spray the office." Kirihara looked at Yuuta who was seriously thinking about the first option.

"Okay… I call 119 and you call the company," Yuuta said walking to his desk. He picked up the phone and dialed the emergency number.

I'm left with the dirty work again! Kirihara thought with a sigh. He opened the phone book and looked for a company to come and spray the office. "Yuuta, I can't find any company just products. Just insect repellants," he muttered dialing a number. "Hello, We have a situation with a spider running loose is there a product that we could have delivered to our office ASAP?"

What is he…? Yuuta thought looking at his partner wryly. "Akaya, are serious…"

"Sshhhhh" Kirihara cut him off. "Ah yes, that will do. So how fast can you send it over?" he asked making a 'thumb up' sign at Yuuta but soon enough he frowned. "What? Are you serious? Didn't I mention that this is an emergency?" He raised his voice, "When I buy a product from your company you should at lea..."

"Give me that," Yuuta said pulling the phone from Kirihara, "Yes, I'm sorry for my partner's irrational behavior but please have two bottles ready and we will pick them up within the hour. Thank you." He gave the phone back to his partner eyeing him carefully.

"You didn't need to do that," Kirihara mumbled taking the phone and placing it in its place. "I could have handled it." He glared at Yuuta.

"It didn't look like it Akaya," he replied picking up more papers from the floor. "But you can handle it from now on…" he mused with a chuckle. "Go get the repellant."

Sneaky bastard, Kirihara thought fuming. "I hate you." He took his jacket and left the office.

"I know," Yuuta shook his head with a small smile.

At ANDO'S Orthopedic Clinic, Shinjuku

Niou was sitting on a bed looking at the nurse who was holding his arm, I have a migraine… he complained mentally closing his eyes to ease his pain. Genichirou is going to kill me… What on earth possessed me and let her drive? "Ouch!" he shouted opening his eyes.

"You should be more careful," the nurse murmured, holding Niou's arm as the other nurse put a cast around it.

Niou glared at her, "Do I look like I was driving?!" he snapped rudely.

The nurse went quiet but was obviously shocked by his outburst.

I'm not only late, but with a broken arm as well. This will truly make Genichirou's day, damn it! I told her to be careful. "How is she?" Niou asked, looking at the nurse.

"She's fine, she's outside filling some papers," the nurse answered.

Niou let out a sigh, that was a crazy stunt she pulled, I should be grateful that we're both alive.

"Okay, you're ready." The nurse let go of his arm and got up from her chair. "Doctor we're ready." She bowed politely and left the room.

"Well, Niou-san, this is not my office but I will spare you the trouble of going there," the doctor chuckled. "You will need to come back for a checkup in two weeks; we will also change your cast at that time."

"Takada-sama, when will I be completely healed?" Niou asked interrupting the doctor. "Sorry to interrupt you like that but it is essential for my job that I'm in full health."

The doctor nodded understandingly, "You're looking at a month or two. Unfortunately you fractured your arm in two parts."

"Shit!" Niou exclaimed annoyed. "Forgive my foul language Takada-sama, but I'm screwed!"

"It's quite okay Niou-san," the doctor smiled. "I still owe you for the help you gave me winning my case." He helped Niou wear his jacket from one arm and rested the other side on his shoulder.

"How is your son Takada-sama?"

The doctor smiled walking out of the examine room with Niou. "He is doing fine, I believe the fact that he would have to go to juvenile jail for a month tuned him down!" he stopped and looked at his patient. "Thank you again Niou-san, see you in two weeks." He bowed politely.

Niou bowed in reply. "It was my pleasure Takada-sama, and thank you for everything." He shook the doctor's hand and turned around to leave. Now, to track down Junko, he thought walking to the reception.

In Ebisu area,

Aya was standing outside an apartment building looking at the piece of newspaper in her hand. Yep, this is the address, she thought glancing at the building one more time. Not bad… I like the color…

The building was quite big and was painted in a light pine green color with all its door and window frames dark red. A very beautiful combination of colors, she thought walking to entrance. She looked around for someone to ask which floor she had to go to but found no one other than the caretaker.

Tough luck girl, she walked over to the older man and asked him if he knew where she had to go to find the appropriate office but he told her he knew nothing and only showed her to the elevators.

"Hmm… I wonder where number 23 is. Umm… Ah, there it is," she said out loud, but then stopped. "This looks like an apartment, major weird." Why would someone hold interviews at an apartment? Hmm… Maybe it's a porn job, which would truly make everyone's day – hehe.

She knocked on the door and waited for a while. This is so… she thought looking around, ooh, a rental notice… she walked on the opposite door to read the details. Interesting… I should ask the caretaker about it.

The door with the number 23 opened and a man stood under the doorframe. "Can I help you miss?" he asked politely. She looks cute… from behind, he thought amused.

"I'm here for the job a…" Aya froze when she turned around and saw Yosuke standing in front of her.

Yosuke laughed seeing his brother's ex-girlfriend, "Oh well, this should be amusing!" he teased and moved to the side to let her come into his apartment. "Come in."

Aya sighed dropping her head. "Of all the people in Tokyo, did I have to stumble upon you?" she grumbled walking in his apartment. She lifted her head and looked around. Hmm… nice taste… "I like the decoration," she said aloud walking further in the living room. "I think I could get used to working here," she grinned looking at Yosuke.

Atobe Industry Corporation

What on Earth happened here? Aya wondered looking around at the bombarded marketing department. She walked slowly towards Fay's office still looking curiously around. Oh… Someone is coming; she thought and trudged towards her destination.

She stopped as she entered her friend's office and saw her muttering incoherent things to herself. "Okay… What happened in here?" Aya asked walking towards Fay's desk, "Did a hurricane make a stop at your department?"

"Stupid spider," Fay mumbled and then sighed. "You know what? Forget it," she said slamming her hands on her desk and stood up. "Let's leave. I hate today." She switched her computer off and picked her handbag from the side of her desk.

"Seriously Fay, what happened?"

"I had a spider in the office… and TWO IDIOTS…" she shouted at the door so they could hear her, "Couldn't even manage to get rid of it. We had to call the ambulance and have Sai taken to the hospital."

Aya chuckled.

Fay narrowed her eyes walking towards Aya, "Don't you dare…" she warned pointing her finger at her.

Aya stifled her laughter and raised her hands in the air. "What? I didn't do anything!" she teased. "Yet…"

"Do you want to walk home?" Fay asked pulling out her car keys.

"Nuuuuuuuuuu…" Aya walked quickly close to her friend.

Fay smiled. "Didn't think so!" she said and they both exited her office. "You boys better clean this mess up before I come in tomorrow, or else…" she warned as she passed both her assistances who were trying to put some order in the chaos they were in.

Aya didn't say anything following Fay; she just waved at the two boys and smiled sweetly.

"See you Aya," Yuuta muttered as he looked around the office. No getting home tonight, he thought defeated and glanced over at his partner. What the…?

"Ooouuch!" Kirihara yelled holding his head. "Heeeyy… What'd you do that for?" he asked irate rubbing the back of his head. Stupid ass, he thought dropping the box he was holding.

"Stop staring at Aya like that," Yuuta answered as he lifted his chair and desk phone from the floor. "She is way out of your league!" he commented and glared at his partner when he tried to say something.

Niou and Sanada's apartment

"MASAHARU," Sanada yelled the moment he stepped his foot in his apartment feeling completely apathetic if he was disturbing his neighbors or not. "MASAHARU!"

"Would you stop yelling? I have a migraine that is splitting my head in two," Niou said appearing from the living room.

"I AM ABOUT TO SPLIT YOUR HEAD IN…" Sanada stopped his shouting spree when he looked up at his friend. "What happened to you?" he asked concerned, completely forgetting why he was angry with his partner.

Niou leaned on the wall to rest his body. "I was in an accident," he said tiredly.

What an ass I am… Sanada thought while helping Niou into the living room. I knew he would never be late at court unless… "How did it happen?" he asked letting go of his friend. Somehow I feel that woman is involved with this.

"Never mind Genichirou, tell me what happened with the case?" Niou said as he lay on the couch. "Did you take it?" My arm hurts… I must have pissed some God and he is taking his revenge on me! He thought feeling the throbbing in his head grow.

"There is no way I can overlook the fact that you're injured," Sanada said loosening his tie. "I decided to take the case although I believe it's a lost hope!" he leaned his head on the back of the armchair he was sitting.

"I see…" Niou muttered. "Who is the judge that's overlooking the case?" he asked closing his eyes. My head is about to explode. He moved his free hand on his forehead and applied pressure on it to stop the pain that was escalating.

Sanada looked at his housemate. Instead of asking or saying something he got up and walked to the kitchen. He heard Niou calling him but still he wouldn't say a word. I hate myself for not throwing that witch out of our window when I had the chance… he thought walking back into the living room.

"I was talking to you…"

"Take this," Sanada said giving Niou a glass of water and a couple of painkillers. "I will not ask again Niou… What happened?" he asked, concern written all over his face.

He called me by my last name… Not good… he is serious… Niou sighed and downed the painkillers and water before he explained what happened.

[Flashback]

"Junko! Stop applying lipstick! You're driving for f***'s sake!" Niou scolded as he saw Junko drive without paying any attention.

"Don't worry, baby. I just want to make sure that I can kiss you properly when I drop you off," she said with a playful wink as she swerved a truck at a high speed.

"Junko! It's not funny!" he said sweat forming on his forehead. She was clearly not paying attention at all.

She laughed after applying her deep red lipstick.

Niou sighed and then turned his attention to the road ahead, "Junko! Children crossing!" he shouted, swerving the wheel to the other direction as the car was still speeding.

Junko screamed.

CRASH

"And that's what really happened," Niou said tiredly. Almost anyway… he thought looking at Sanada's frowning face. "Genichirou, I know what you're thinking…"

"No Masaharu, you don't know what I am thinking." Sanada cut him off annoyed.

Niou cringed at the tone of his friend's voice. "I know you're mad Gen…" he was cut off once again.

"Mad?" Sanada asked looking straight into Niou's eyes. "Oh, believe me I am beyond being mad… I'm furious!" he said clenching his fists. "I will say this once to you Masaharu. You better cut all ties with that bitch or else I will have to take care of things myself," he said with a low threatening voice. "Do not take my words lightly."

Niou just swallowed feeling every fiber in his body shudder.

At the girls' apartment

"What? Why?" Fay asked.

"Because…"

Fay glared at her, "Because what?!" she demanded, "I like where we live."

Aya shrugged, "I want a change, plus, it's exactly opposite my new work, if I took it, I can go to work in my pajamas." She chuckled at the thought.

"Don't only think of your own convenience! What about me?! Do you know how much of a hassle it is to change apartments and…"

"It's five minutes away from where you work remember?" Aya interrupted with a grin. "I walked to you."

Fay lifted her legs on the couch. "Well, it doesn't sound as bad when you think how close it is from work!" she said thoughtfully.

Aya grinned flipping through the magazine she was reading. "Good… Keep that thought in mind when it's time to change…" she closed the magazine and threw it on the floor. "I am bored…"

"Me too," Fay replied closing her eyes. "How about we go to the movies? We haven't done that in a while. What do you think?" she opened one eye to look at Aya stretching her body.

"Let's go!"

Fay sighed but smiled as she got up from the couch. "You look very energetic all of a sudden," she muttered walking to Aya's room. "What do you want to watch?"

Aya was buried in her closet trying to find something to wear. "I don't care… anything!" she popped her head and grinned at her friend. "You have been staying home lately since you broke up with Atobe?" she hid her head in the closet again.

"I wasn't dating Atobe!" Fay shouted and glared at Aya when she popped her head out again. "Stop grinning like an idiot and get dressed!" she turned around and walked out of her friend's room and into hers.

Hehehe… yeah right! Aya thought pulling out her favorite jeans.

Next day, at Yosuke's apartment

Aya was sitting with Yosuke going through her job terms. He was explaining everything thoroughly to her and she admired how absolutely serious he was being, for he had given he the impression of a total goofball. She looked around the room while she listened and saw a red mark on his calendar. "What's that?" she asked curiously.

He looked at her, "What's what?"

"On the calendar, the marked date?" she said, her eyes keenly on it. "One thing you should know about me is that I am annoyingly curious."

Yosuke sighed, "I'm explaining job terms to you, Aya," he muttered. "Well, if you must know, it's Genichirou's birthday."

Her eyes lit up, "Oh."

He smiled and turned the calendar away, "Let's continue this…"

"No! Wait!" she said excitedly. "Let's have a Birthday party! A surprise birthday party!" she looked at him with expectant, gleaming eyes.

Yosuke chuckled, "Do you want to be on his hate list?" he asked amused. She is really cute… hethought shaking his head.

"Not really… but it's an excellent way to get him and Fay together." Aya answered dreamily.

"I see…" Yosuke rubbed his jaw looking thoughtfully at the calendar. "Aya… Wasn't Genichirou your boyfriend? Would it be okay with you if he started dating Fay?" he asked averting his eyes from the calendar to her.

Aya nodded. "I know it sounds weird… and don't get me wrong… I did like, I mean I do like Gen-chan," she laughed, "But I guess its different now! I don't see him as a boyfriend anymore, but as a big brother." She looked at Yosuke's expressionless face and laughed again. "Makes no sense, right? After the whole fiasco with the fight between me and Fay, huh?"

Yosuke smiled and scratched the back of his head. "Well, you lost me on that subject!" he laughed. "I mean, if it wasn't love why all the fuss?"

"Ah… right! Well, I didn't realize it wasn't love at first, you see I was very enthusiastic about Gen-chan," Aya replied as if she was talking to a 'dear good' friend. "Anyway, there is a lot of history between me and Fay that you don't know. I am sure that you would gladly like to hear it, but now is not the time," she chuckled seeing Yosuke's expression change from anticipation to disappointment.

"You are killing me, you know that, don't you?" he said before loosening his tie. "You're a cruel woman Aya." He shook his head.

Aya laughed. "I see you suffer from the same annoying habit of curiosity. I promise I will tell you while we organize the birthday party for Gen-chan, deal?"

Yosuke looked at her with a gleam of mischievousness in his eyes. "Deal."

At Sanada & Niou´s office

"Genichirou, can you give me the file of the Kitamura case, I want to look at it," Niou said entering Sanada's office.

Sanada looked up from his computer screen. "What are you doing here Masaharu?" he asked staring at his partner expressionless. "I thought I told you to take the day off and rest?"

Niou sat on a chair. "I was bored at home Genichirou. Besides, its not like I can do a lot of things with my hand in this condition." He lifted his arm to emphasize what he was saying. "At least here I can do something, and by something I mean to read the case you had to take charge of without me."

"Go home and rest!" Sanada said sternly ignoring everything that his friend had said. "Don't make me drag you home and chain you to your bed!"

Why is he being so overprotective? Niou thought a bit annoying and very happy that his friend cared that much about him. "Seriously Genichirou, I want to be here, so just give me the file and I will go back to my office and stay quiet!" he smiled reassuringly.

Sanada kept his gaze on Niou while he was contemplating about what to do with him. If he stays here, she won't come… but if he is at home alone, she might go… I can't believe I have to baby-sit him, he sighed and looked through the scattered files on his desk. "Here you go," he said a couple of minutes after finding the file he was searching for.

Niou took the file from Sanada. "Thanks Genichirou," he said walking towards the open door. "Hiroshi, is picking me up for lunch, care to join us?" he asked as he exited.

"Yagyuu," Sanada muttered loosening his tie. "Yeah, I haven't seen him in a while. Just let me know when its time to go!" he said and returned to typing on his computer.

That will be fun… Niou smiled as he went back to his office. I bet they will both scold me about the accident…

At a restaurant in Ebisu

"Why do you look exhausted?" Atobe asked Oshitari.

"It's bad enough that I have issues at work, but a very impatient woman at home, she's making me lose my patience," he admitted.

Fay looked up amused from her salad. "Is our dear Arisa getting impatient?' she chuckled, "You do realize that it gets worse when she actually delivers."

Oshitari glared at her, "Are you finding my situation amusing?"

Fay chuckled again, but said nothing. She turned her gaze to Atobe, "You look tired as well, boss," she teased playfully. "Not sleeping well? All alone at night?"

"Ha! Ha!" he muttered, glaring at her. "Don't flatter yourself, woman, I'm just too tired to fall asleep."

"I still say its sexual frustration." She giggled.

Atobe said nothing.

Oshitari eyed them, "Am I to assume that you two stopped being stupid?"

"What do you mean Yuushi?" Fay asked smiling mischievously. "That I'm stupid?" she tickled him while he pulled away.

He coughed and straightened his glasses. "I'm not saying that you're stupid, but that you got involved in a stupid situation." He looked at Fay and grinned. "Although I must admit that you are an idiot!"

Fay gasped and hit him on the shoulder. "What are you implying, you… you…" she hit him again, this time a little bit harder.

"Heeeeyyyy…" Oshitari said raising his voice a bit. "That hurt!"

Atobe rubbed his temples, feeling a headache building up slowly. "Would you two shut up already!" he glared at both his friends. "What are you? Kids in kindergarten?" he sighed and got up. "Excuse me."

"Oops…" Fay pushed her tongue out to mock Oshitari, "You're in trouble!"

Oshitari took of his glasses and cleaned them a piece of clothe. "It's your fault! Idiot!"

Business – End of Day

"Aya? Why do you sound exhausted?" Fay asked worriedly on the phone.

Aya gritted her teeth as she walked out of her, now officially, ex office building. "Because…" she wheezed, "Argh! No wonder people don't quit easily!"

"Okay, now I'm worried," Fay said on the phone.

"They dragged me around all day for stupid unnecessary paperwork!"

Fay chuckled.

"It's not funny!' Aya snapped. "I had to get signatures from half a dozen people so they can ensure that my record is clear. It was annoying and time consuming… and I'm frustrated and tired." She kept on walking.

"But you're free now, no?"

Aya stopped walking and blinked, "You're right… I am free." She smiled, "Which means…"

"No parties."

Aya scowled, "At least take me out for dinner to celebrate! You haven't spoiled me in ages. All we do is eat in now."

Fay went quiet for a second, "Fine, fine, we can do that."

"You checked your calendar, didn't you?" Aya asked knowingly.

"It doesn't matter. You're free, unemployed and broke," Fay said with a smile, "So it's my job to feed you."

"Ha ha!"

"Go home, Aya. I'll pick you up tonight."

"It's a date." Aya walked to the bus and jumped in after she hung up from Fay. I am free…